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Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-08T15:56:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 KATIUSCA WESSLER MIRANDA.pdf: 4397696 bytes, checksum: da27bc7c1adc7efa3e74ecfcf87feb0e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-08-07 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This paper studied ring opening polymerizations L-lactide (LLA) and ε-caprolactone (ε-CL) by bulk polymerization and solution polymerization, in order to evaluate the influence of initiator concentration, reaction time and reaction temperature on the yield and molecular weight of both polymers. Tin octoate and methanol was employed as initiators. It was observed that LLA and ε-CL speed ring opening polymerization, increases with temperature and that the monomer/polymer conversion immediately occurs in the first hours of synthesis when 2% of initiator is used. The molar mass, determined by capillary viscometry, was approximately 7x103 g/mol, for both polymers. It was also studied the copolymerization of LLA and ε-CL by solution polymerization employing different solvents. Weight percentages of LLA/ε-CL equal to 100/0, 95/5, 90/10, 85/15 and 80/20 were studied. The toluene was the only solvent that enabled the production of polymers and copolymers at 120 ° C. Initiator concentration equal to 0.015% and reaction time equal to 24 hours, were assessed, generating polymers with average molar mass (Mw) around 2x104 g / mol, determined by GPC. It was observed by proton and carbon 13 nuclear magnetic resonance (13 C-NMR and 1H-NMR) that reactions conducted with ε-CL concentrations lower than 15% do not yield copolymer, only PLLA. Bulk polymerization it was also studied and the main difference compared to solution polymerization is associated with the molar mass of the copolymer P(LLA-co-εCL)80/20. This product had a higher molar mass when synthesized by the first technique. After the study of copolymerization, the functionalization of nanocrystalline cellulose particles (CNC) with LLA and ε-CL, by polymerization in solution, was studied. Three compositions were analyzed: (i) PLLA-CNC, (II) P(LLA-co-εCL)85/15-CNC and (III) P(LLA-co εCL)80/20-CNC; the reactions were conducted at 120 ° C for 24 hours. It was possible to functionalize CNC particles in situ, using 80/20 LLA/ε-CL systems, with tin octoate (0.015 wt%) as catalyst and toluene as solvent (composition III). The functionalization was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The compatibility of the P(LLA-co-εCL)80/20-CNC particle increased in toluene, confirming the reduction of hydrophilicity of these particles. Unlike occurred with the compositions (I) and (II), the composition (III) only allowed the production CNC functionalized particles. PLLA, PCL and / or P (LLA-co-εCL) were not produced. This fact indicates that the concentration of ε-CL and the presence of cellulose hydroxyl groups decreased the reactivity between the monomers. / Neste trabalho foram estudadas as reações de abertura de anel dos monômeros L-lactídeo (LLA) e ε-caprolactona (ε-CL), pela técnica de polimerização em massa com o intuito de avaliar a influência da concentração de iniciador, do tempo e da temperatura de reação sobre o rendimento reacional e a massa molar de ambos os polímeros. O iniciador empregado neste estudo foi o octoato de estanho e como co-iniciador, metanol foi empregado. Foi observado que a velocidade de reação de obtenção do poli(L-ácido láctico) (PLLA) e da poli(ε-caprolactona) (PCL) aumenta em função da temperatura e que com 2% de iniciador a conversão de monômero em polímero ocorre logo nas primeiras horas de síntese. A massa molar determinada por viscosimetria capilar foi de aproximadamente 7x103 g/mol para ambos os polímeros. Também foi estudada a obtenção de copolímeros de LLA e ε-CL por reações de polimerização em solução empregando diferentes solventes. As porcentagens mássicas de LLA/ε-CL empregadas foram 100/0, 95/5, 90/10, 85/15 e 80/20. O tolueno foi o único solvente que possibilitou a produção de polímeros e copolímeros a 120 °C. Para estas sínteses a concentração de iniciador foi igual a 0,015% e o tempo de reação foi de 24 horas, gerando polímeros com massa molar ponderal média (Mw) ao redor de 2x104 g/mol, determinadas por GPC. Foi observado por ressonância magnética nuclear de hidrogênio e de carbono 13 (RMN1H e RMN13C) que as reações conduzidas com concentrações de ε-CL inferiores à 15% não rendem copolímero, apenas PLLA é produzido. A obtenção de copolímeros pela técnica de polimerização em massa também foi estudada e a principal diferença em relação a polimerização em solução está associada à massa molar do copolímero P(LLA-co-εCL)80/20, sendo que o produto da polimerização em massa apresentou massa molar mais elevada que o obtido pela polimerização em solução. Após o estudo da obtenção dos copolímeros, foi estudada a funcionalização de partículas de celulose nanocristalina (CNC) com os monômeros de LLA e ε-CL pela técnica de polimerização em solução. Foram analisadas três composições: (I) PLLA-CNC, (II) P(LLA-co-εCL)85/15-CNC e (III) P(LLA-co-εCL)80/20-CNC; as reações foram conduzidas a 120°C durante 24 horas. Foi possível funcionalizar partículas de CNC in situ, empregando 80% de LLA, 20% de ε-CL, 0,015% de octoato de estanho e tolueno como solvente (composição III). A funcionalização foi confirmada por análises de espectroscopia de infravermelho por transformada de Fourier (FTIR). Testes de dispersão do P(LLA-co-εCL)80/20-CNC em tolueno confirmaram a diminuição da hidrofilicidade destas partículas. Ao contrário do ocorrido com as composições (I) e (II), a composição (III) permitiu somente a produção partículas de CNC funcionalizadas. PLLA, PCL e/ou P(LLA-co-εCL) não foram produzidos. Este fato indica que o aumento da concentração de ε-CL e a presença de grupos hidroxilas de celulose diminuíram a reatividade entre os monômeros.

Exploring new technologies that can meet the world’s energy demands in an efficient and clean manner is critically important due to the depletion of natural resources and environmental concerns. Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are low-cost and clean technology options that use solar energy efficiently and are being intensively studied. How to further reduce the cost of this technology while enhancing device performance is one of the demanding issues for large scale application and commercialization of DSSCs. In this research dissertation, four main contributions are made in this regard with the motivation to reduce further cost of DSSC technology. Firstly, ~10% efficiencies were achieved after developing understanding of key concepts and procedures involved in DSSCs fabrication. These efficiencies were achieved after step-by-step modifications in the DSSC design. Secondly, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were successfully employed as an alternative to Pt in the counter electrodes of DSSCs. DSSCs fabricated with CNTs were ~86% as efficient as Pt-based cells. Non-aligned CNTs were successfully grown using four different CVD methods and finally, multi-walled vertically aligned CNTs (MW-VACNTs) were synthesized using water-assisted chemical vapor deposition (WA-CVD). Thirdly, carbon derived from pyrolysis of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) was successfully employed in counter electrodes of DSSCs instead of Pt. DSSCs with NCC were ~58% as efficient as Pt-based DSSCs. Fourthly, novel organic metal-free dyes were designed and employed instead of commonly used Ru-based dyes. DSSCs with these novel sensitizers were ~62% as efficient as those using the conventional Ru-based dyes. Characterization techniques including current-voltage measurements, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetery (CV), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used.